Walker signs election observer bill

MADISON, Wis. (AP) - Gov. Scott Walker has signed a bill that allows election observers to stand as close as three feet away from the table where people register to vote and where they receive their ballot.

The bill Walker signed Wednesday changes current law, which lets the chief inspector or municipal clerk designate areas for election observers to stand.

Walker also signed a bill requiring that an equal number of people nominated by the Republican and Democratic parties serve as poll workers.

A third bill Walker signed allows election officials to stop counting most names entered as write-in candidates. Current law requires every vote be counted but election officials say that can be a time-consuming process.

The new law requires in most cases that write-in candidates only be counted for registered candidates.